"Pressure Is On Congress" Over DADT

WASHINGTON - In response to today's procedural ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S.
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal permitting"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to remain
temporarily in effect during an appeal, Lambda Legal issued the following
statement from Staff Attorney Peter Renn:

"Today's ruling means additional months or even years of needless suffering
by lesbian, gay and bisexual service members, who must continue to live in
fear of discovery until the appeals process is complete – or until Congress
or the President steps up to the plate. But it's important to remember
what today's ruling was not: a consideration of the merits of the case.
That remains for another day.

"Each day that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' remains in effect, it destroys lives
and careers, undermines national security, and forces the discharge of the
very personnel our military needs in a time of war. The pressure is now on
Congress to repeal this fundamentally un-American law – and on the
President, who can issue a stop-loss order to put an immediate end to
discharges under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

Lambda Legal filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, brought by Log
Cabin Republicans, urging the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to leave
in place pending appeal an injunction against the law, saying that its
impact extends far beyond those in uniform, to include lesbian, gay, and
bisexual adults and youth, who must contend with the consequences of the
discriminatory message perpetuated by"Don't Ask, Don't Tell."